LAS
VEGAS
–The
Southern
Nevada
Health
District
is
encouraging
families
to
make
healthy
choices
part
of
their
routines
during
the
new
school
year
by
taking
the
5-2-1-0
Challenge
during
Childhood
Obesity
Awareness
Month
in
September.

Led
by
the
Health
District’s
Office
of
Chronic
Disease
Prevention
and
Health
Promotion
in
cooperation
with
Partners
for
a
Healthy
Nevada
Coalition,
the
5-2-1-0
Challenge
promotes
four
simple
daily
habits
that
can
help
children
grow
up
healthier
while
reducing
their
risk
of
obesity
and
other
chronic
diseases.

The
5-2-1-0
Challenge
encourages
families
to
strive
for:

• 5
  servings
  of
  fruits
  and
  vegetables
  each
  day
• 2
  hours
  or
  less
  of
  recreational
  screen
  time
  each
  day
• 1
  hour
  of
  physical
  activity
  each
  day
• 0
  sugary
  drinks—choose
  water
  instead

The
beginning
of
a
new
school
year
is
an
ideal
time
to
establish
healthy
routines.
Packing
nutritious
lunches,
encouraging
active
play
after
school,
and
choosing
water
instead
of
sugary
drinks
are
small
steps
that
can
make
a
meaningful
difference
over
time.

In
Nevada,
nearly
1
in
3
kindergartners
enters
school
either
overweight
or
living
with
obesity.
In
Clark
County,
approximately
1
in
6
high
school
students
has
obesity,
underscoring
the
importance
of
helping
children
develop
healthy
habits
early
in
life.

Nationally,
about
1
in
5
children
and
adolescents
(21.1%)
has
obesity.
Children
living
with
obesity
are
more
likely
to
develop
serious
health
conditions
later
in
life,
including
type
2
diabetes,
heart
disease,
and
high
blood
pressure.

Childhood
obesity
affects
some
communities
more
than
others.
Nationally,
obesity
prevalence
is
highest
among
Hispanic
children
(26.2%)
and
non-Hispanic
Black
children
(24.8%),
compared
with
non-Hispanic
White
children
(16.6%)
and
non-Hispanic
Asian
children
(9.0%).
Many
factors
influence
these
disparities,
including
differences
in
access
to
nutritious
foods,
opportunities
for
physical
activity,
housing
stability,
and
quality
education.

“The
new
school
year
gives
families
a
fresh
opportunity
to
create
healthy
routines,”
said
Dr.
Cassius
Lockett,
District
Health
Officer
for
the
Southern
Nevada
Health
District.
“The
5-2-1-0
Challenge
reminds
us
that
small,
consistent
choices
can
make
a
lasting
difference.
Eating
more
fruits
and
vegetables,
staying
active,
limiting
screen
time,
and
choosing
water
are
simple
habits
that
can
help
children
stay
healthy
today
and
throughout
their
lives.”

Throughout
September,
the
Health
District
and
its
community
partners
will
offer
resources
and
activities
to
help
families
put
the
5-2-1-0
Challenge
into
action.
The
campaign
emphasizes
that
healthy
living
is
a
family
effort
and
that
small
daily
choices
can
lead
to
lifelong
benefits.

Families
can
find
free
tools,
activities
and
wellness
resources
by
visiting

GetHealthyClarkCounty.org
and

VivaSaludable.org,
or
by
calling
(702)
759-1270.